What you need to know:
- The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved a new plan to allocate Clean Truck Fund (CTF) revenues through June 2028.
- The CTF aims to reduce emissions by making zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and infrastructure more affordable.
- Funds are raised via a $10–$20 fee per loaded container transported by diesel-powered drayage trucks.
- Since April 2022, the Port has collected $123 million and spent or allocated $93 million so far, with another $120 million projected by mid-2028.
The Port of Los Angeles is going full speed ahead in its pursuit of converting drayage trucks to zero-emission models, along with supporting infrastructure to assist in the transition.
[Related: 15 new Volvo VNR Electrics deploy at Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach]
The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners approved late last month a new spending plan that dictates how the Port will allocate its Clean Truck Fund (CTF) revenues through June 2028.
The Port's funding come from the CTF Rate, specifically created to help make zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) more affordable for operators. The CTF Rate revenues are generated from cargo owners who must pay $10 for every loaded twenty-foot equivalent unit that come through the port on mostly diesel-powered drayage trucks. Larger containers carry a rate of $20.
However, cargo owners using ZEV trucks are fully exempt from the rate. Other owners whose trucks qualify for lower nitrogen oxides emissions have a payment exemption through Dec. 31, 2027.
[Related: Federal and California taxes hinder ZEV growth, says drayage operator]
A more precise project funding breakdown, subject to approval from the Harbor Commission, includes:
- Incentive vouchers for up to 350 ZE drayage trucks, with 103 trucks delivered and up to 247 more on order.
- An additional 22 ZE trucks through two licensed motor carriers awarded funding in the Port's first Request for Proposal (RFP), with 10 trucks in service and 12 trucks ready to be deployed this quarter when in-house charging stations are operational.
- A regional project led by the South Coast Air Quality Management District that put 100 ZE trucks into drayage service at the San Pedro Bay ports.
- A regional infrastructure project funding eight public charging stations that provide 207 chargers for battery-electric trucks across Southern California.
- Another proposed public charging station due to be located in Wilmington and currently under environmental review.
At present, there are 546 zero emission trucks operating at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, a majority of which were purchased with assistance from the California Air Resource Board's (CARB) Clean Truck Fund vouchers.
